asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will outline the inter-governmental meetings or co-operation Ireland has participated in with a view to stopping drugs traffic into this country.
Written Answers. - Control of Drug Trafficking.
14.
The main meetings in the last year or so, and the main forms of co-operation in the drugs area in which Ireland is involved are through our membership of the EC and other international organisations.
Although the EC Treaties do not deal directly with the question of control of drug abuse or smuggling there is ongoing co-operation between Community countries. In addition the Irish Minister for Health, Deputy Barry Desmond, called a meeting of his European colleagues in Brussels during the Irish Persidency of the Community. This took place in November 1984 and drug questions formed the main topic. A subsequent meeting was held under the Italian Presidency in Venice in May 1985 at which Ireland was represented by the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy John Donnellan.
In the Council of Europe context Ireland is a member of the "Pompidou Group". This is a co-operation group made up of 16 of the 21 member states and was set up to combat drug abuse and illicit trafficking in drugs. The Ministers meet every two years. Their most recent meeting was in September 1984 and Ireland was represented by the Minister of State at the Department of Health, Deputy John Donnellan, Senior officials known as the "Permanent Correspondents" meet twice yearly.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) held a major seminar of officials on the world drug problem in September 1983 at which the Department of Health were represented. This was an interregional workshop on drug dependence.
The Garda, naturally, co-operate, through Interpol, with foreign law enforcement agencies in fighting drug offences and drug trafficking. The Revenue Commissioners are also involved in international co-operation in the prevention of illegal drug trafficking. Ireland acceded in 1974 to the Naples Convention which provides for mutual administrative assistance between customs administrations of EC member states and Turkey on matters relating to the illicit traffic in drugs. Frequent meetings of the Mutual Assistance Group (MAG), at which all member states are represented, take place where matters of common concern such as drug trafficking are discussed and joint action decided upon. The Naples Convention also provides for direct contact between the investigation services of customs administrations in the fight against the illicit traffic in drugs.
International co-operation and the spontaneous exchange of information take place on an on-going basis. Ireland is a member of the Customs Co-operation Council (CCC) which is an international organisation responsible for promoting co-operation between customs administrations in relation to, inter alia, smuggling, customs fraud and the illicit traffic in narcotic drugs.
Ireland was one of the first countries to accede to the Nairobi Convention, an international instrument drawn up by the CCC which provides for mutual administrative assistance for the prevention, investigation and repression of customs offences. Annex X of the convention deals exclusively with drug trafficking and Ireland has accepted this annex.
Ireland is represented by customs officials at meetings of the Enforcement Committee of the CCC and drug trafficking is a major issue at these meetings. Agencies such as Interpol and United Nations Division of Narcotic Drugs attend these meetings so that there is full dissemination of information about drug trafficking and useful liaison is maintained. Ireland was also represented at the Multinational Conference on Trafficking in Narcotics, Rome, 1983 — jointly sponsored by the United States customs administration and Italian customs administration.
In the United Nations context I have been somewhat heartened by the increased awareness of drug problems reflected in the debates and resolutions of the general assembly in recent years. These signs of increased awareness of the seriousness of the problem are helpful for the future of world co-operation in the area. The Secretary General of the United Nations has proposed a world conference on drug questions to be held in 1987. I welcome this initiative and support it. I consider that it could be a major boost to international co-operation in the fight against drug trafficking and drug abuse.